HF 413

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/07/2013 02:09pm

A bill for an act
relating to local aid payments; providing for inflation adjustments to payments in
lieu of taxes for certain natural resource lands; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 477A.12, subdivision 1; 477A.14, subdivision
1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 477A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 477A.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Types of land; payments.

(a) As an offset for expenses incurred
by counties and towns in support of natural resources lands, the following amounts are
annually appropriated to the commissioner of natural resources from the general fund for
transfer to the commissioner of revenue. The commissioner of revenue shall pay the
transferred funds to counties as required by sections 477A.11 to 477A.14. The amounts are:

(1) for acquired natural resources land, $5.133 new text begin , as adjusted for inflation under section
477A.135, new text end multiplied by the total number of acres of acquired natural resources land or,
at the county's option three-fourths of one percent of the appraised value of all acquired
natural resources land in the county, whichever is greater;

(2) $1.283 new text begin , as adjusted for inflation under section 477A.135, new text end multiplied by the
number of acres of county-administered other natural resources land;

(3) $1.283 new text begin , as adjusted for inflation under section 477A.135, new text end multiplied by the total
number of acres of land utilization project land; and

(4) 64.2 cents new text begin , as adjusted for inflation under section 477A.135, new text end multiplied by the
number of acres of commissioner-administered other natural resources land located in
each county as of July 1 of each year prior to the payment year.

(b) The amount determined under paragraph (a), clause (1), is payable for land
that is acquired from a private owner and owned by the Department of Transportation
for the purpose of replacing wetland losses caused by transportation projects, but only
if the county contains more than 500 acres of such land at the time the certification is
made under subdivision 2.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively for aids payable in
calendar year 2012 and thereafter.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [477A.135] INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.
new text end

new text begin In 2012 and each year thereafter, the amounts required to be adjusted for inflation
in sections 477A.12 and 477A.14, shall be increased to an amount equal to the amount
before the inflation adjustment multiplied by one plus the percentage increase in the
implicit price deflator for government consumption expenditures and gross investment for
state and local governments prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the United
States Department of Commerce for the period starting with the first quarter of 2011, and
ending with the third quarter of the calendar year prior to the year in which aid is paid.
These adjusted amounts must be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a cent.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively for aids payable in
calendar year 2012 and thereafter.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 477A.14, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General distribution.

Except as provided in subdivision 2 or in
section 97A.061, subdivision 5, 40 percent of the total payment to the county shall be
deposited in the county general revenue fund to be used to provide property tax levy
reduction. The remainder shall be distributed by the county in the following priority:

(a) 64.2 cents new text begin , as adjusted for inflation under section 477A.135, new text end for each acre
of county-administered other natural resources land shall be deposited in a resource
development fund to be created within the county treasury for use in resource
development, forest management, game and fish habitat improvement, and recreational
development and maintenance of county-administered other natural resources land. Any
county receiving less than $5,000 annually for the resource development fund may elect to
deposit that amount in the county general revenue fund;

(b) from the funds remaining, within 30 days of receipt of the payment to the county,
the county treasurer shall pay each organized township 51.3 cents new text begin , as adjusted for inflation
under section 477A.135, new text end for each acre of acquired natural resources land and each acre of
land described in section 477A.12, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and 12.8 cents new text begin , as adjusted
for inflation under section 477A.135, new text end for each acre of other natural resources land and each
acre of land utilization project land located within its boundaries. Payments for natural
resources lands not located in an organized township shall be deposited in the county
general revenue fund. Payments to counties and townships pursuant to this paragraph shall
be used to provide property tax levy reduction, except that of the payments for natural
resources lands not located in an organized township, the county may allocate the amount
determined to be necessary for maintenance of roads in unorganized townships. Provided
that, if the total payment to the county pursuant to section 477A.12 is not sufficient to fully
fund the distribution provided for in this clause, the amount available shall be distributed
to each township and the county general revenue fund on a pro rata basis; and

(c) any remaining funds shall be deposited in the county general revenue fund.
Provided that, if the distribution to the county general revenue fund exceeds $35,000, the
excess shall be used to provide property tax levy reduction.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively for aids payable in
calendar year 2012 and thereafter.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin 2012 PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.
new text end

new text begin Any payment adjustments required by this act for payments in lieu of taxes for
calendar year 2012 shall be added to the calendar year 2013 payments under Minnesota
Statutes, section 477A.12. Distribution of the additional aid payments shall be added to
the calendar year 2013 distribution under Minnesota Statutes, section 477A.14.
new text end